Almost 6 months ago to the day, I wrote a blog post called "What Kind of Clean do I want?" where I was settling for "picked-up" and although that will have to suffice on most days, I'm also learning that I just function better when things are orderly and organized. Again that doesn't mean it has to be "sparkly" just not in complete disarray. To me, having a clean home is loving my family by creating a sanctuary; a safe-place. It's saying I care about the environment in which my family lives (we are all less stressed and enjoy life more when our home isn't in chaos). It's loving God by being a good steward of the home He has given us. It's loving my children by modeling good habits. It's loving others by having an available home for those unexpected times of hospitality.
For a stay-at-home wife/mommy, my home is my domain, my pride. However, for a self-proclaimed perfectionist (in the area of my home), I fall pretty short. In my attempt to keep everything presentable and looking nice on the outside, those areas behind closed doors/drawers are what drive me a little crazy. You know the hidden corners, that junk drawer that holds 13 pens that don't work and the messy closet with unfolded laundry - okay so maybe I'm the only one.
You see, in my attempt to make everything look "perfect"on the outside, it is the discipline of cleaning the inside that matters, just like Mt. 23:26 talks about.
We greet people at church every Sunday and ask a courteous, "How are you?" then grit through that planted smile, "everything's good" all the while wondering what they'd think if you really told them how you're doing. Or perhaps you just wished they cared enough for the long answer as apposed to the typical, "good" or "busy" response.
On either end of the spectrum, I'm learning I have to take care of the behind the scenes, both personally and in my physical home because it creates a healthier me - I just function better.
As I mentioned before, our family is in a new season towards overall health: spiritually, mentally, physically and even within our home we are working towards deep cleaning, organizing and much needed purging of unnecessary things.
So today in attempt to organize two closets, my house is in disarray but I look forward to the end result of no more clutter and closets that reflect the inner work God has been doing in my heart.
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